What is Computer Security?

Computer Security is a branch of technology known as information security as applied to computers. Information security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The objective of computer security varies and can include protection of information from theft or corruption, or the preservation of availability, as defined in the security policy.

Technological and managerial procedures applied to computer systems to ensure the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information managed by the computer system

 

Computer security imposes requirements on computers that are different from most system requirements because they often take the form of constraints on what computers are not supposed to do.

Typical approaches to improving computer security can include the following:



Physically limit access to computers to only those who will not compromise security.

Hardware mechanisms that impose rules on computer programs, thus avoiding depending on computer programs for computer security.

Operating system mechanisms that impose rules on programs to avoid trusting computer programs.

Programming strategies to make computer programs dependable and resist subversion.



Computer Security has three Layers:

o Hacking

o Cracking

o Phreaking

 

Hacking:

Unauthorized use or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network.

Computer hacking always involves some degree of infringement on the privacy of others or damage to computer-based property such as files, web pages or software. The impact of computer hacking varies from simply being simply invasive and annoying to illegal.

 

Cracking:

The act of breaking into a computer system.

Software Cracking is the modification of software to remove protection methods: copy prevention, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, CD check or software annoyances like nag screens and adware.

The most common software ***** is the modification of an application’s binary to cause or prevent a specific key branch in the program’s execution.

 

Phreaking:

The art and science of cracking the phone network.

 

 

Security by design:

The technologies of computer security are based on logic. There is no universal standard notion of what secure behavior is. “Security” is a concept that is unique to each situation. Security is extraneous to the function of a computer application, rather than ancillary to it, thus security necessarily imposes restrictions on the application’s behavior.

There are several approaches to security in computing; sometimes a combination of approaches is valid:



Trust all the software to abide by a security policy but the software is not trustworthy (this is computer insecurity).

Trust all the software to abide by a security policy and the software is validated as trustworthy (by tedious branch and path analysis for example).

Trust no software but enforce a security policy with mechanisms that are not trustworthy (again this is computer insecurity).

Trust no software but enforce a security policy with trustworthy mechanisms.



 

12 tips for computer security:



Update / patch ALL your software every now and then!

Check / adjust ALL your settings so they are safe, since they ARENT by default!

Use firewall, like ZoneAlarm to control what goes in and out from your computer!

Use good passwords: at least 13marks long, containing both letters and numbers. Remember to change your password every few months atleast and dont ever use the same password in two places!

Get a good antivirus program: NOD32, F-Secure or Norton Antivirus and keep it updated!

Don’t open or execute files that you are not 100% sure are absolutely safe nomatter where or how you get them.

Wipe your historyfiles (like cookies, internet history and temporary files, etc.), logs and personal files, with specific wiping program (like Eraser) instead of just deleting them.

Use encryption to enhance your privacy! Use encrypted email (like Hushmail or Ziplip), www-surfing and encrypt sensitive files on your computer (PGP).

When you are finished using some internet-based service like email, sign out of it rather than just closing your browser! Also, when you leave your computer, make sure that none of such programs or connections are left open that someone could abuse. In WindowsNT/2k/XP, press Windowskey+L to lock the workstation.

Don’t use public computers for anything you need to type in your logins, they usually have Trojan horses that capture your passwords.

Make backups and store them in safe place! Easiest way to do a total-backup is to make an “Image” of your harddrive or partition and store it on safe location, but floppies will usually be just fine for storing documents, etc.

Install and Use a Hardware Firewall



 

Regards,

Kethy Wright

www.perceptionsystem.com

Nowadays desktops and laptops are much more durable and dependable that they were just five years ago. Therefore, buying a used or refurbished computer is becoming more of a trend.

Suppliers replace their computers on average every 6 months and companies frequently upgrade their equipment. Buying one of these used or refurbished computers can save you a lot of money while still using a quite up to date technology. This is even more relevant if you are not a heavy user (i.e. most of your time on a computer is spent online, you may use a few standard applications once in a while). Even modestly priced computers will more than suffice for these types of demand.

Thinking about buying a used or refurbished desktop or laptop?

Buying a computer is not at all an easy job, one has look get detailed information of the available computers of good and reputed brands. One must take into consideration the size, color, configurations, features etc… While your computer should correspond to your personality and lifestyle, you should always keep in mind the reputation of the brand in the market. Brand counts a lot; you can render good service by the manufacturer if your computer is damaged.

Important handy Tips before buying a computer…

* Verify if the brand is reputed and always buy a good reputed brand. Read about customer service experience for that specific computer issues.

* Check the warranty/guarantee of the computer (seek out computers which still have warranty/guarantee remaining)

* Compare the price of the new model in the market with what price your buying your used computer, try to get the best bargain. i.e. a two year old computer should not be bought for more than half of its original price.

* Check if the computer is outdated (if out of production it is difficult to get spare parts)

* Is the operating system current (Windows Vista/Windows Xp). Earlier versions probably run slower (windows 2000) and would not be advisable unless your needs are limited (i.e. web surfing, Word…). In any event, stay away with computers running on Windows 98 (granted you don’t find many anymore). Also be aware of Windows Vista. Many users are reverting back to XP and that is even more obvious in the corporate world. Why? Vista looks nice but doesn’t bring many technical improvements; therefore IT managers are not willing to implement something new when what they have works just fine. Some domestic users just don’t like the new way of navigation within the Vista Operating System.

* Check if the configuration of the computer you are buying is good.

* Check the speed of the processor. If possible start the computer and see how long it takes to fully turn on. If its slow just turning on, imagine the lack of speed once you start adding software..

Additional Tips for laptops

* Is the battery life good? (search for the computers with a very good battery backup).

* Check for the screen size of the computer your buying and see to it that it is not exceeding the Normal (normally the screen size should be between 15-17). Less than that generally translates in older computers and increases the chance of age failure. Once the screen breaks, you are often better of changing the whole computer.

* Review the connectivity of the computer (Network, USB, Video, Audio…) look to it that it has a good connectivity including wireless.

* Check out the weight. Ensure the computer is light enough for you to carry.

* More details at http://www.bestlaptopsreviews.com/index.php/Used-Notebooks.html

Where to buy used computers:

* Online auctions. Pro: Often offer the best prices. Cons: Cannot validate the accuracy of the described item. No warranty. Tip 1: Some companies will offer warranty for up to two years, the cost is about 12% to 18% of the purchase price. Tip2: Buy from sellers with great feedback, do not hesitate to contact the seller with questions prior to bidding.

* Online marketplaces: Pro: Set prices and quantities – Sometime warranty is available. Cons: Prices can vary a lot, do your homework.

* http://Craiglist.com Contacting sellers on http://Craiglist.com in your local area gives you a chance to meet with the owner and physically test the computer before the purchase

Where to buy refurbished computers:

Refurbished computers can be a great way to buy as they have warranties and are generally sold by manufacturers or companies affiliated with them.

* Manufacturers websites will tell you how to buy directly from them or from their authorized sellers. Pros: Warranty, established companies. Cons: Prices are higher than regular auctions (you pay more for peace of mind)

Buying a used or refurbished computer can be a great way to save money. If you use some of the advice discussed above you can avoid many pitfalls. One last thing concerning laptops, make sure you have a good bag to protect your computer from a fatal accident. Your bag should be big enough for a 17 inch screen computer as it is rapidly becoming the norm, you will probably change your computer within a few years, the bag you may keep a lot longer.

Good Buy!

Just how many USB gadgets would help you cool down?

Well, there are USB gadgets which would light up. There are also those which would play music. There are some which would help you store files. Other USB gadgets would do a lot of crazy antics. Some would help you remove any stress or tiredness in your body by letting you play some game. But it is not everyday that you get to meet a USB gadget which would help you cool down. And yes, it does not matter if you would need to cool down because of a hot temper or just because the temperature is quite high.

Now, it is time to meet the USB Air Force fan. By just the name itself, the USB Air Force fan tells you that it is a fan of some sort. It does not need to be directly plugged in into the grid like most electric fans. It also does not need you to put in some batteries so that it would send off some cool air your way. The USB Air Force fan which can be found over at Gadget Epoint would be the USB gadget that is going to help you cool down while you work with your computer. Very nice.

But this USB Air Force fan is not like your ordinary fan. See, this USB gadget comes as a classic air plane, only smaller. It has been painted with a camouflage print so it really is like a real Air Force air plane. And that is something that you do not get to see everyday. Though this USB gadget does not fly, it does send off cool air. But do not worry about losing fingers if you hit the blades. See, the blades are made to be soft and flexible they wouldn’t hurt you.

The Linux Foundation announced April 8 its annual sponsorship of independent IDC predictions about how the Linux ecosystem will grow over time. The answer is “a lot” but exactly what you’d expect in relationship to the UNIX ecosystem. 

I usually measure Linux/UNIX usage growth/decline by following the IDC quarterly view of server shipments. The clear trend from that perspective is that factory shipments of servers with Linux is increasing basically at the rate that factory shipments of servers with UNIX decreases. It gets the rabid open source blogosphere foaming at the mouth to say this but Linux is basically the latest version of UNIX. So market researchers expect the two operating systems to move in this manner. 

From a market research perspective, looking at the Linux ecosystem separate from the UNIX ecosystem would be like looking at the growth of Windows 15 years ago without also watching the decline of DOS. Bascially,  you choose the IBM and HP versions of Linux et al for factory shipments if you used to choose AIX, HP/UX and so forth. In addition, leading server suppliers are partnering with Linux services suppliers such as Red Hat, Canonical and so forth for follow-ons. This is relatively low-margin services business the major systems suppliers used to take for themselves. 

The IDC report released April 8 looks at the same trend from a different perspective. By the way and not coincidentally, the Linux Foundation is funded by platinum sponsors Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Intel, NEC, Novell and Oracle along with dozens of other Gold, Silver and Affiliate sponsors. Rather than measuring your choice of servers, the new IDC research predicts your “Linux-related software spending.” The forecast says Linux-related software revenue will grow from $12 billion to $35 billion between 2008 and 2013 while “Unix spending” goes almost almost flat (from $69 billion to $74 billion). This statistic forecasts not only the Linux- and other open source operating software (e.g., Solaris) revenue flowing in the market but the revenue of license fees, maintenance and related subscriptions for application servers, ESBs, databases, ERP, BI and even consumer software running on those operating systems. Note that much of this software is not tied to open source terms and conditions (Ts&Cs). As an example, an Oracle database and SAP R/3 running on a Linux server would be considered Linux-related software spending in this case. 

The IDC report also has some interesting information about cloud computing, virtualization and the effects on the market of the current economic downturn. It is available free from the Linux Foundation Web site. I wrote about a companion piece of IDC research sponsored by Novell here. 

By comparison, “Windows-related” revenue, according to the same IDC white paper, will grow from $149 billion to $206 billion during the same period. That is, both ecosystems are growing at about the same compound annual growth rate of 6 percent to 7 percent. That’s also as one would expect because both ecosystems are rapidly becoming the two dominant choices you have in the marketplace. As has been the trend for a few years, Linux- and other open source-based software is replacing UNIX-system-based software while Windows-based software is displacing OS/400 and other similar less IT-personnel-intensive systems. 

As always, be careful of statistics. These statistics do not tell the whole story of the marketplace and your choices in it. For example, just as a lot of the software in the open source operating system ecosystem is deployed with traditional Ts&Cs (the Oracle/SAP example above), a lot of the software revenue measured in the Windows ecosystem is distributed with open source Ts&Cs. Examples are JBoss or MySQL running on Windows

Given the sheer number of web hosting providers, making the decision as to which one to go with can become a daunting task. What many people don’t realize is that the wrong choice can introduce a “single point of failure” into your otherwise successful online business. In this articles, I will discuss some of the major factors you should consider before you make that choice.

If you have always wanted to know more about this topic, then get ready because we have all the information you can handle.

interval AND BANDWIDTH

The most usual thing people look for in a hosting source is the total of floppy storeroom cosmos and “bandwidth” vacant to them. While these are indeed important, they should not forlorn be the deciding truthors. truth is, most sources nowadays allocate more floppy cosmos and bandwidth than most people would want. As I explained in an past thing, 5-10 Gigabytes (or more) of storeroom is A LOT of storeroom. Most people will never want this greatly. If you alprompt have your website intended and prompt to go on your own notebook, plainally right-click the folder and choose properties to verify how greatly cosmos it needs. Even if you use backend databases (e.g., MySQL, MS ACCESS), the gigantic margin of sites would never come close to requiring 5GB or more. As long as the hosting sources you are considering give you that 5GB or more, you will be excellent in all but a few underdone suitarguments. If you realize you want more at a later time, make surely your source gives you an painexcluding upgrade avenue to a hosting design with a advanced allocation.

The same thing applies to bandwidth. Many, if not most, sources now give bandwidth allocatioins of 200Gb/month or more. That total would be more than adequate for most small businesses. Let’s look at an example. If each visitor to your site uses, on ordinary, 1MB of bandwidth to side through your pages, a 200GB/month bandwidth allocation would sell 200,000 visitors/month. Even if each visitor browsed an ordinary of 10MB on your site (which is decidedly dodgy), you could still sell 20.000 visitors/month. Of course, if your business truly explodes into a massive victory, your failsafe fallback locate is choosing a hosting source that allocates for a painexcluding upgrade avenue.

Keep reading further to learn how this topic can benefit you, as the rest of this article will supply you will the needed information.

communal VS. DEDICATED HOSTING

In a common hosting environment, your site is sited on a server that also grants hosting for a number of other people. You have your own cosmos, your own domain and the respite, but other people are also with the capital of that server for their sites. There is no chance of your pages viewing up on the other people site, or associate versa. Each site has its own sole set of folders, logins, and so forwards.

likewise the truth that common hosting expenses considerably excluding, the important consideration for most people is that the hosting circle prop workers administers the server. If there is a catch with the server, they have to fix it, not you. When the working technique or other technique software wants to be upgraded, they do it. All you care about is your own site and the pages enclosed on it.

For a large number of small businesses, common hosting is more than adequate. In a common hosting environment, there is no want for you to have official skill of Windows or Unix server administration. Thats not your soul business so why would you want to take that on?

In some suitarguments however, there may be exact reasons why superstar wants to administer their own server. These generally need people who have specialized needments. In that argument, a dedicated server would be the decision of choice.

In a dedicated server environment, you have packed manage over everything. You configure the server the way you want it. You ensconce working technique upgrades and patches, and you fix stuff when they crunch. You verify what components run on the server (e.g. ASP .NET 1.1 or .NET 2.0). You verify if the server runs CDONTs or some other mailer series. Its almost as if the server were in your home or place of business, excepting that you are administering it distantly.

Again, in the gigantic margin of suitarguments for a small business, common hosting would be the preference. In those suitarguments where a dedicated server is vital, most hosting companies grant that, along with the headaches.

expense

It is amazing to me what some hosting sources trust for their serassociates. It is even more amazing that so many people pay these worths. Let’s consider a few of the “low end” hosting designs untaken by some of the “big boys” in the web hosting sector.

One of them trusts $9.95/mo for their plain serassociate. They also need a $25 system fee. For that, you get 2GB of storeroom cosmos and 20GB of bandwidth. Another trusts $14.95/month. With that, you get 500MB (MB, not GB) of storeroom, and 30GB of bandwidth. Are you kididng me?? There are thousands of hosting sources that will give you 10 period these totals for $5/month or excluding. And if you relate other skin, you will find that in most suitarguments, these other sources also give you more in language of dispatch accounts and other “boundlessbies”. It pays to relate. For those who want to expend lookalike, or even triple, for domains and web hosting, go right before. It is your money after all.

Of course, you can forever go with a boundless hosting account. You cant beat the worth. But that doesnt routinely allocate you to use your own domain. You just become an increase of superstar elses (e.g., somehostingserassociate.com/yoursite). That doesnt do greatly for your branding. With boundless sites, you can also presume a boatload of ads that the hosting circle puts there. I disbelief that is truly the aura you want to portray to your customers.

HOSTING supplier VIABILITY

Many people overlook this consideration, but liability so can be a important gaffe. The last thing you want is to get a great site online, jerk getting a ton of visitors and sales, and then have your hosting circle go stomach-up on you. Its happened all too regularly.

It is to your help to make surely that whoever you host with will be there tomorrow, next month, next year and five days from now. You would be astounded how many hosting companies are run by a single self out of the basement of their home, or how many of them are working on a shoestring.

Dont be anxious to ask a possible hosting circle where their servers are located, or how many people are on their workers. I have confirmed in other stuff that it is truly important for all businesses to have a issue Continuity chart. Ask your possible hosting circle if they have one. Ask them what happens to YOU if there is a fire in their server knotty. And dont be anxious to ask them what happens to the circle if the possessor gets hit by a beer truck on the way to work. It happens.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Depending on the wants for your online business, there are numerous other truthors to consider when choosing your hosting source:

- how many dispatch accounts do they grant?

- do they grant “Blog” software or do you want a 3rd-group plugin

- do they grant “Discussion Forum” software, or do you want a 3rd-group plugin?

- do they grant a “shopping drag”?

- do they grant “business accounts” if you don’t alprompt have one?

- do they grant “SSL” certificates for obtain transactions?

- what is the upgrade avenue for adding skin at a later court?

- do they grant robust transfer statistics?

You may not want all these skin, but if you do, it’s easier to go with those that are integrated into your hosting design. affect what YOUR wants are, then choose the hosting source that gives you the best combination of worth and skin.

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